Page 24 - 2018-BMR-April

Elevate Your Level of READINESS:

A Method for Effective Score Study

Dr. Brett A. Richardson

Introduction It is an unfortunate reality that Scratching the Surface
In preparing for the spring semester, sometimes these tasks preempt score Countless methods of score study
most of us probably spent time study. While we understand that in have been described over time and
browsing through the UIL Prescribed our current educational climate, these this approach is not intended to
Music List (PML), trusty publisher tasks are not going to disappear, but supersede ones you deem effective. For
catalogs, or our local print music we must also insist on our right as undergraduate student conductors, I
provider’s inventory of band scores, all conductors to prepare curriculum encourage you to adopt the methods
in preparation for the UIL Concert and adequately for our students. Ultimately, that your teachers advocate, making
Sight-Reading Evaluation or Spring our repertoire is the curriculum, and them your tools of choice as you
Festival season. This kind of research for our students to achieve success in begin your career. Glean what you
is a good thing, a much-needed change both rehearsal and performance, we can from the method proposed here
of pace after the challenges of the first must develop a clear understanding and incorporate whatever best fits
semester of a beginner band year or of the repertoire before the students your teaching sensibilities. For more
taxing marching band season. play it. Simply put, learning the score seasoned music educators, you already
Speaking from experience, the at the same time as the students is a have methods of score study and score
next and necessary step after score recipe for failure. So, repeat after me: marking that have worked for you
selection—score study—seldom “The more obstacles I let get in the for many years. No need to reinvent
receives the attention it deserves, a way of adequate score study, the more the wheel! My aim is to articulate
victim of the myriad responsibilities my students are affected negatively in the goals of score study and ways of
placed on administrators of a a rehearsal setting.” Put another way, attaining those objectives when time is
comprehensive music program. These when we fail to prepare, we prepare limited. Furthermore, my hope is that
responsibilities include: to fail. In this article I propose an this technique will give conductors at
• Parent/teacher conferences approach to score study, focused on all levels a chance to reflect, try new
• E-mails, phone calls, social media, efficiently digesting the information methods, or refine existing ones. In all
and networking obligations, etc. provided in the score, so that we can honesty, this process, in combination
• Fundraising efforts and trip maximize the time with our students with the prescribed time limits, works
planning and get to the art sooner. best with grade I-III scores because of
• Collaborative meetings with other their relative brevity and accessibility.
staff members I have found that using this method
• Marching show planning provides a good initial understanding
• Community performances and of pieces of any grade level. Finally, be
pep rallies mindful of the following as we begin
• State-mandated testing activities our explanation of the method:
(tutoring or “pullouts”) 1. Every method of score study and
In reading this list, I am reminded score marking is personal.
of one of John Bogenschutz’s Tone 2. You must mark your scores in
Deaf comics, showing a music teacher, a way that best fits your needs as a
knees buckling from the weight of conductor and rehearsal technician.
umpteen hats balanced on his head, 3. Finally, however you mark your
each hat representing a different role. scores, each mark must be meaningful,
The Many Hats of the Band Director by John Bogenschutz and you must be able to understand it
(2012) © Tone Deaf Comics. Used with permission.
Please check out John’s work at www.tonedeafcomics.com during rehearsal and performance.
Bandmasters Review • April 2018 22 Texas Bandmasters Association